Anti-Israeli elements in Australia, supported by sections of the media, tried to exploit the situation in order to besmirch Israel’s image.

As former head of the Australian Jewish community and now resident in Israel, I
was bombarded over the past week with endless calls from the Israeli and global
media soliciting comment on Ben Zygier, the Australian who committed suicide
while in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison.

I declined to respond
because I am not privy to secret information from the Mossad or ASIO (the
Australian Intelligence Agency) and I had nothing constructive to
contribute.

Now, having had time to mull over the events and with the
ebbing of the sensationalist media coverage of conspiratorial theories based on
imaginary scenarios concocted by creative journalists, I feel more inclined to
express a few observations.

At the outset, I feel impelled to state that
although I consider that there was every justification to initially retain media
silence on such a sensitive security issue, once the misleading exposé of the
affair was released to the world by the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC),
the continuing Israeli gag order was regrettable and
counterproductive.

It would have been preferable for Israel to have
responded immediately with a brief statement to the effect that there had been a
security breach and that the accused had committed suicide while in
prison.

In all likelihood, this would have substantially stanched the
flood of damaging speculation and hysteria which ensued, such as comparing
Israel to Argentina in the 1970s, wild allegations of torture and even
questioning whether Ben Zygier had been murdered.

By the time the
authorities officially released details of the incident, it was too late because
the distorted initial reports and the John le Carré-like speculation in the
global media had already caused enormous damage to Israel’s
reputation.

In the light of media speculation relating to the suicide,
there is now an obligation on the part of the Israeli government to release the
findings of the judicial inquiry which had already taken place to ascertain
whether the accused was under adequate supervision in the prison in which he was
being held. We live in a democracy and are entitled to be reassured that if
there was a breakdown or negligence on the part of the prison authorities, those
responsible will be held responsible and that every effort will be made to
ensure that such a tragedy is averted in the future.

On the other hand,
it is a harsh reality that prisoners determined to end their lives usually
succeed.

While reiterating that I have absolutely no insight into the
details of the charges against Zygier, there are grounds for concern that the
Mossad should employ stricter criteria in their enlistment process, ensuring
their recruits possess the necessary sophistication and psychological makeup
required to engage in sensitive national security issues.

However,
notwithstanding these reservations – and without relating to the guilt or
otherwise of Ben Zygier – it must be stressed that on the basis of the limited
information available, there is no evidence to suggest that either the state
authorities or Mossad acted irresponsibly or breached the law. The rule of law
applied throughout the entire proceedings.

The hearings were carried out
in camera due to security requirements, senior judges were involved, three
lawyers were engaged in Zygier’s defense and he was allowed access to his
family. That Zygier was being tried and held in custody under an assumed name
was with his approval and that of his family. It was his tragic suicide that
provoked the media frenzy and proliferation of wild conspiracy
theories.

PROBLEMS RELATING to national security apply to all countries
but invariably to a greater extent to Israel which is subject to more acute
security threats than any other nation in the world. To Israel’s great credit,
despite the Jewish state being under constant siege and threat from terrorism
since it’s creation, this has in no way compromised our resilient democratic
process.

It would appear that on the surface the Australian government’s
response to the media releases to date was restrained despite an angry outburst
by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The foreign minister Bob Carr initially
expressed surprise over the affair, but it emerged that Israel had in fact
informed the Australian Embassy immediately after Zygier’s arrest and again the
day after his death. It is noteworthy that the Zygier family did not request the
intervention of the Australian authorities.

In response to questions, the
Australian foreign minister did indicate that Australia would conduct further
investigations but it was unclear whether this related to an apparent breakdown
in communications between the Australian authorities and ASIO or to a broader
level.

Anti-Israeli elements in Australia, supported by sections of the
media, tried to exploit the situation in order to besmirch Israel’s image. One
prominent anti-Zionist Jewish extremist, on Australia’s national radio, accused
his fellow Jews of harboring dual loyalties and claimed that the Jewish school
system was a breeding ground for brainwashing children to settle in
Israel.

This affair has undoubtedly created negative ripples against
Israel among the public. There is still fallout from the passport imbroglio when
Australia, considered among Israel’s best friends, became one of the primary
countries whose passports were illegally employed by Mossad for intelligence
operations.

Australian Jewry, one of the most passionately Zionist
Diaspora communities, regards this episode as a great tragedy. Ben Zygier’s
father, Geoffrey, had served in professional positions in a number of leading
Jewish organizations and is well regarded by those who know him. Ben himself was
considered an effervescent personality but a committed Zionist who made aliya
and it is heartbreaking that a young idealistic Zionist’s journey could end so
catastrophically. Other than expressing sympathy for Zygier’s parents who were
obliged to endure a repetition of the grief and mourning they underwent two
years ago when they buried their son, Jewish communal leaders declined to
comment.

Beyond investigating whether negligence contributed toward the
suicide, this tragic episode reminds us that we live in a very tough region and
that even as a democracy, security related issues will arise which must remain
outside the public purview.

We must also recognize that even if there are
the inevitable occasional wretched mistakes, the Mossad is vital for our
security and well being. It remains far superior to and more responsible than
most intelligence agencies throughout the world and is not a law unto
itself.

Despite the setback arising from the distorted manner in which
this case was initially presented, falsely implying a lack of judicial oversight
on the part of Israel, the basic relationship between Australia and the Jewish
state is not in jeopardy.

Above all, while far from being perfect, we
must remind ourselves that Israel remains one of the most committed democracies
in the world.

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